Portable air conditioners are becoming more popular every day for their mobility and user-friendly features. These air conditioners are manufactured to operate with a little bit of moisture in the condensation tank to level up the efficiency. But the tank being full to the brim damages the air conditioner. So the question is- Do I need to drain my LG portable air conditioner?
Do I Need To Drain My LG Portable Air Conditioner?
Well, it depends on the moisture level in the air. But always keep in mind that draining the condensate tank is an important job to keep your portable air conditioner running smoothly.
There is a drain hose connection. There shouldn’t be any need for drainage during Cool or Fan Mode. A shallow pan can be used to drain the water. This isn’t provided with your portable air conditioner.
During Cool or Fan Mode (in low humidity), there is no need for drainage. It’s because the air conditioner needs some moisture in the collection tank to function efficiently. That’s how it was programmed.
So the low humidity in the air works as a blessing in a certain way. Besides, to run the air conditioner in dehumidification (dry) mode, it is wise to install a drain hose (10mm inner dimension) and place the open end in a suitable location outside of your house where the remaining water will pass, for example, the drain line.
The drain hose connection is enough for Cool or Fan mode to exhaust residual water. Another thing that can work the same as a drain hose is a shallow pan, but it is not built-in with your portable air conditioner. So you need to set up one if necessary.
So what about the high humidity areas? Do I need to drain my LG portable air conditioner? The answer is- definitely if you want your air conditioner to have a long life.
How Do I Drain My LG Portable Air Conditioner?
The draining steps for LG portable air conditioners differ from model to model. You must follow through with the manual for specific guidelines of that particular model.
To drain the unit according to the instructions, first, remove the drain cap and bend the unit to the back. Some versions of portable ACs have an out and inner caps, which you need to remove. Then, use a shallow pan to clear out the water. This equipment is not delivered with your portable air conditioner. In addition to dry areas, setting a drain hose reduces the extra work of draining. A drain hose will protect your condensate tank from accumulating water.
How Often Should I Drain My LG Portable Air Conditioner?
How often you should drain your air conditioner depends on the moisture level in your house. The indoor air quality of your house decides how many times you need to drain your portable air conditioner. Usually, portable air conditioners in humid regions require draining every 8 hours.
On the other hand, if you live in a dry climate, you don’t need to drain your portable air conditioner frequently because very little moisture present in the air is drawn out to cool the atmosphere. So the condensate tank doesn’t fill up fast. Even if you live in a dry area, you must inspect the condition of your AC tank once a month for hygiene purposes.
Moreover, the latest technology portable air conditioners use exhaust vents to completely remove moisture from your home. The air conditioner jets water from its condensate tank onto the condenser coil. As soon as the condensate water comes into contact with the hot condenser coil, it evaporates. After that, the steam is released out of your house through the exhaust hose. This process helps to take away the water from your portable air conditioner’s condensate tank, so you don’t have to take the hassle of draining it.
Read more: How Long Does Air Conditioner Need To Deice?
What Happens If You Don’t Drain Your Portable Air Conditioner
If you don’t drain your portable air conditioner, such situations can occur:
- The most common outcome might be your portable air conditioner will automatically shut off and not turn back on. Maximum portable air conditioners have a built-in float switch. The objective of the float switch is to turn off the air conditioner when the condensate tank overloads with water. But to your relief, there’s an alarm set with the tank that warns you beforehand. That’s how you get to know when to drain the tank.
- If for some reason, the float switch is unable to stop the overflow on the condensate tank, your AC might get damaged, or your home would face a water leakage situation.
- Mold growth will take place in your portable air conditioner if you leave your tank undrained. Will grow in your portable air conditioner. Water clogged inside your portable AC’s tank provides a moist environment that is a breeding ground for a mold colony.
How Long Can The Exhaust Hose Be On A Portable Air Conditioner?
The exhaust hose set with your portable air conditioner may be extended to its maximum length, which is approximately 48 inches. But to establish the utmost efficiency, it is recommended to keep the hose length as short as possible to avoid tangling or bends in the hose.
Is It Safe To Leave A Portable Air Conditioner On All Day?
It’s generally safe to leave your portable air conditioner on throughout the day because that won’t lead to any fire incidents. Besides, AC systems are programmed to turn off automatically after cooling down the room temperature. So you don’t need to panic if you forget to turn off your AC unit unintentionally.
Why Is My Portable Air Conditioner Making So Much Water?
The main reason for your portable AC making so much water too quickly might be the amount of humidity in your area. Another reason could be the excessive water load due to dirty filters or clogged condensate lines. Consequently, the deposited water will automatically exit through the vent hose.
Why Does My Portable Air Conditioner Fill With Water Quickly?
Examining the condensate line and pump are the initial two steps to fix an AC. In an exceptional case, your portable unit may not be at fault; rather, the environmental factor can be responsible. Then you need to drain your AC tank often if your LG air conditioner fills with water quickly.
Here are a few probable reasons why your LG portable air conditioner fills with water quickly:
- High Humidity
The air conditioner cools your home by omitting excess moisture and heat in the air. That’s why the AC unit has to work harder to get rid of the extra moisture of high humidity places. The cooling process may not be done efficiently then because the unit is condensing a lot of water than it is supposed to.
- Blocked Water Tank And Drain Hose
Some portable air conditioners require the water tank to drain manually. In contrast, the water tank may release little water even though the indicator keeps signaling about the full tank.
The scenario might be following- a blocked water tank that is getting overloaded quickly but hardly draining any water. To look it up, if you remove the drain valve and begin to vacate the full water tank, but little water gets out, the problem might lie in the water tank.
Another cause might be the drain hose complication because a fully functional drain hose will never let the water tank fill up.
But if it does anyway, then check for the blockage in the drain hose, specifically the sharp bends that collect dirt and hinder the flow of water from draining by the aid of gravity.
- Dirty Filters
Dirty air filters create a hindrance to the airflow through the AC unit and over the evaporator coils.
Consequently, the air gets frosted with overproduced moisture making your portable air conditioner occupied with water faster than usual.
- Faulty Condensate Pump
A condensate pump helps to collect the water drained by the air conditioner unit. Sometimes the problem can arise from the malfunctioning condensate pump.
The best solution for a faulty condensate pump problem is to call an expert technician to repair the unit.
- First-Time Use In A Room
Setting up an air conditioning system in your house for the first time might fill up the AC unit with water rapidly, but that does not indicate the unit is faulty. Portable air conditioners tend to take in a lot of moisture in a very short time from the surroundings of a new environment. But after working a few times, the humidity level will eventually decrease. Finally, your AC will begin to work properly.
What Should I Do To Control The Humidity?
The feasible solution is to set up a good dehumidifier in your house to decrease the perspiration level. This will reduce extra pressure on your portable unit.
Conclusion
Finally, from all the discussion above, you have already learned about why to drain and when to drain your portable LG air conditioner. You also know about the factors demanding your AC to be drained. Draining water increases the efficiency of your AC. It saves you a lot of money and energy from seeking customer services from time to time.
Now, has this even appeared on your mind-
Do I need to drain my LG portable air conditioner? Think wisely and decide accordingly.
